Detroit Treads sandals made from illegally dumped tires available online; see how purchases help city

We're helping to clean up the city, we're employing people and it's a quality product." - Rev. Faith Fowler on Detroit Treads sandals made from tires

You can now buy Detroit Treads sandals online at the Cass Community Social Services website. Courtesy photo

DETROIT, MI -- After several weeks of only phone orders, a Detroit organization has now made an increasingly popular summer apparel item available for purchase online that makes use of illegally dumped tires in the city.

Cass Community Social Services (CCSS) is selling Detroit Treads sandals for $25 a pair (plus shipping) on its website that are made out of tires found scattered throughout the 139-square mile municipality.

Those interested in buying the sandals can visit the CCSS website or call Sue Pethoud at (313) 883-2277 ext. 203 to order over the phone.

The Detroit Treads sandals are available with black, red or blue straps and in sizes small, medium, large or extra-large.

Sizing runs as follows:

Small (women's size 4-6.5)

Medium (women's size 7-9.5 or men's size 6-8.5)

Large (women's size 10-12)

X-Large (men's size 11.5-13.5)

Since 2007, CCSS has used more than 35,000 illegally dumped tires in Detroit to make mud mats and the Detroit Treads sandals, said the Rev. Faith Fowler, the organization's executive director.

"We're quite happy," Fowler said of the products. "We're helping to clean up the city, we're employing people and it's a quality product."

The products have helped create 80 part-time jobs at CCSS' green industries program for those in need including young people, veterans and homeless people off all ages.

The operation started with just 12 jobs in 2007 for the mud mat production.

Fowler said the organization picks up about 300 tires at a time to make the door mats and sandals and has "absolutely no idea" how many illegally dumped tired could be in Detroit's 143 square miles.

"A lot!" Fowler exclaimed. "That's all I know."

Organizers hope to create at least 20 more jobs - paying about $9 an hour - to help in Detroit Treads production.

The customer response to the mud mats has been phenomenal, Fowler said.

A Google search of the "mud mats" shows Cass Community Services' product ranked No. 10 among the most popular manufacturers.

"Now we're sending those all over the country, and it's just wild. Every single week we have four or five mats going to another state."

Fowler believes the response to Detroit Treads will be "even greater" due to the impact of social media websites like Twitter and Facebook at a recent giveaway event during the Detroit fireworks event downtown this month.

"It's been crazy, crazy, crazy," Fowler said. "People are lining up and calling to get them before we can even make them."